- Feel secure in who they are, which enables them to:
- Support, encourage, befriend, and build up other women (rather than competing, judging, gossiping, and tearing down).
- Support men (because in your strength you won't need to manipulate, play games, or try to gain your worth in relationships).
- Not get their value from comparisons or social media (and conversely, not allow themselves to be torn down by comparisons or social media - and this might mean kicking social media to the curb).
- Stand up for what they believe in, and stand up for others. In big and little situations, in person and on the Internet, when no one is watching and when everyone is watching.
- Work hard and are not easily discouraged.
- Are not afraid to accomplish, but also are not basing all their worth on accomplishing. I want my daughters to have every opportunity and I will encourage them to pursue their education and their dreams (and I'm grateful to live in a time where things like NASA scientist and president of the United States are not off the table); but I want them to know that it's okay to fail. And also, that there is value in *many* different kinds of work (and in particular, that there is tremendous value in caretaking work).
- Are able to accept constructive criticism, listen, learn - and use all of that to become better.
- Becoming better looks like living out the Fruits of the Spirit more and more: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
This is a pretty good list of how I'm trying to become strong, and the kind of strength I wish for my daughters. What would you add to the list?
Happy International Womens Day!
